Brgy. Ginebra def Meralco, 100-92 [QF Game 1 | PBA S49 Comm’s Cup | Feb. 5, 2025]

After an extended period of rest to heal his injured back, Akil Mitchell is poised for a comeback. The critical question, however, is whether he is truly game-ready.

This brings added intrigue to the renewed rivalry between Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia, as they clash in one of the two best-of-three matchups in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals, set to ignite at the Smart Araneta Coliseum this Wednesday.

Game One of the highly anticipated Meralco-Ginebra showdown tips off at 7:30 p.m.

With Mitchell sidelined due to back spasms, the Bolts stumbled through their final two games of the elimination round, leading to a tough matchup against the Gin Kings in the quarterfinals.

The Panamanian-American import also missed the Bolts’ EASL outing against the Ryukyu Golden Kings, where Meralco suffered a disappointing 71-89 defeat.

When Mitchell was in the lineup, the Bolts surged to a respectable 7-3 record, positioning themselves well for a top-two finish. However, they faltered at the finish line, dropping their last two encounters against Ginebra (87-91) and Magnolia (92-129).

Coach Luigi Trillo emphasizes that his squad must elevate their performance to have a shot at overcoming the Kings.

Interestingly, Justin Brownlee and his crew have already bested the Bolts 4-0 this season, which includes a dominant 3-0 sweep of Meralco in their best-of-five series during the Governors’ Cup.

Meanwhile, the Kings are riding high on a two-game winning streak as they enter the Commissioner’s Cup playoffs, highlighted by a commanding 120-92 victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, followed by a hard-fought 91-87 win over Meralco.

Despite the recent success, Coach Tim Cone remains grounded, aware that their victory over the Bolts featured significant minutes from their second and third string players in the second half, stressing the importance of staying focused as the playoffs approach.

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